High School Band Suspended Over Halftime Show, Upsetting Many

The Forest Hill High School marching band has been suspended from preforming for one year.

Jackson, MS – The Forest Hill High School band has been suspended from performing for the rest of the academic year, after they depicted the execution of police officers during a halftime skit in Brookhaven on Oct. 5.

During their halftime performance, students dressed as nurses and doctors used fake rifles to depict the execution of students dressed as police officers.

The Mississippi High Schools Activities Association (MHSAA) imposed the penalty against the band on the basis of “inappropriate conduct,” WLBT reported.

More specifically, the MHSAA found the performance was “unbecoming of a wholesome band program,” and that it demonstrated a “lack of administrative control.”

The sanction was immediately met with protest from some parents and members of the community, according to WAPT.

“There are some sensitivities that should have been considered, however, they were doing a performance based on what they practiced,” Reverend Dwayne Pickett told the news outlet. “And now, because of the Mississippi High School Sports Activities Association and because of the uproar, they have been suspended from performing for the all year.”

“We think that is unfair,” Pickett argued. “They deserve the right to be heard. They deserve the right to perform and do what they love to do.”

The reverend was part of a group of parents and religious leaders who held a press conference on Friday in defense of the high school band and its director, Demetri Jones.

Jones has been suspended since shortly after the incident occurred.

The group said it plans to appeal the MHSAA sanction, and claimed that Jones was unaware about the widely-publicized murders of the Brookhaven officers prior to the halftime performance, WLBT reported.

“Let me be clear,” Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks told WAPT. “We all understand the bad timing for the field show considering what happened to the law enforcement officers there in Brookhaven.”

“However, we are against any punishment toward our children,” he added. “I don’t think anybody’s job should just be thrown out because of bad judgment. Yes, let’s talk about it, let’s discuss the wrong, let’s discuss how we can be more considerate, but we want to keep the program intact.”

“The children suffering are being punished on behalf of bad judgment, or a bad decision, does not need to happen,” Banks said.

Shortly after video footage of the halftime performance went viral, Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Errick L. Greene offered his “deep and sincere apologies for the performance,” the Jackson Free Press reported.

"The performance included toy-guns and the apparent shooting of a character in a dramatized scene that played out on the field as the band played. The scene is an interpretation of the movie 'John Q.,’" Greene confirmed.

"JPS has a great deal of respect and appreciation for our law enforcement partners," the superintendent continued. "The band’s performance does not depict the values and people in our community, and was incredibly insensitive to the students, families, law enforcement officials and the entire Brookhaven community. For this we sincerely apologize to all, and we pledge to do better in the future.”

“We have taken some initial actions in response to this matter, and you have my commitment that we will investigate it fully and take additional appropriate action with respect to procedures and personnel,” Greene said.

Brookhaven Mayor Joe Cox said that Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba personally apologized to him for the halftime show, WLOX reported.

“I offer my sincerest regrets to the Brookhaven community for the insensitivity that [was] portrayed during the Friday evening halftime show," Lumumba said in a statement to the Jackson Free Press. "There is an active investigation into the circumstances that led to this performance.”

Lumumba said he did not believe the Forest Hill students who participated in the show had a “malice intent,” and said the adults tasked with supervising and guiding them should have stepped in.

"Our students should have been instructed that this was neither the time or place for that performance,” he said.

In the film ‘John Q.,’ actor Denzel Washington played the role of a man whose son needed a lifesaving heart transplant that Washington’s character could not afford due to medical insurance limitations, the Jackson Free Press reported.

In one scene, the main character holds a SWAT officer hostage, which is vastly different than what appeared in the high school performance.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher said the performance “only exacerbates the war against law enforcement” across the country, WLOX reported.

“Mimicking acts of violence against law enforcement, or members of the public should never be condoned at a high school football game or any function whatsoever,” Fisher said. “I have to question whoever made this decision in regards to what message they are sending to our children.”

“This is unacceptable in a civilized society,” Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said in a tweet the morning after the Forest Hill High School band’s performance. “Someone should be held accountable.”

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No. 1-25

JLocke

Oct 26

Democrats. SMH

HAWAIIBLUE

Oct 24

High schoolers are old enough to know right from wrong, acceptable from unacceptable. They should be punished as do the teacher responsible, and the principal. You cannot change dumb or poor parenting, but the teachers and the and Principal are hired to guide the students down the right path.

THEDUKE

Oct 24

Seabat said "We're going backward, people. Gun violence of any type, other than a self-defense altercation, is unacceptable."

I agree with 99% of what you wrote Seabat ....except for the part mentioning "we're going backwards,people".....What is actually happening is that just 5% (of the 12% total black US population) is doing 90% of the crime. " We" as a country and its people collectively are not going backwards .......as the overall vast majority of criminal problems are being perpetuated predominantly by one single group in this country. The remaining US population is on the receiving end of this 5%. Once that is discussed, addressed, resolved then the predominant majority of this country would see dramatically far less violence, crime and incarcerations. Its not all about racism folks though it does exist ...its an out of control demented black culture which supports these sick behaviors.

investigator

Oct 22

Just proves how parenting is conducted in the HOOD!! Actually, it's non-existent! They should ALL be kicked out of school, period!! Keep your eye out for these scumbags....we'll see them on the news....in a drive-by shooting or running from the police. Pure trash!

Caroparks53

Oct 22

These kids knew what they were doing was wrong as did the parents who taught them the disrespect. Kids behaviour is taught at home. I feel bad for the police in that town. It is obvious they r fighting a losing battle